Its Now Up To Township Board

ITS NOW UP TO TOWNSHIP BOARD

The following correspondence has passed between Henry B. Baker, secretary of the state board of health, and Dr. W.B. Hinsdale, health officer of the city of Ann Arbor, in reference to the rendering establishment at the Cornwell dam.  It now seems up to the health board of the township of Ann Arbor to give a statement as to their views on the question:

Lansing, Feb. 6, 1902

President of the Board of Health, Ann Arbor, Mich.:

Dr. Sir -- This office is in receipt of a complaint of a nuisance alleged to be created in Ann Arbor by a phosphate factory, which I infer was recently established.  It is alleged that the factory is a source of sickness, and as such it is a subject which should be thoroughly investigated by your board of health at once, and immediate steps taken thereafter to abate and prevent any nuisance which is found (upon such examination) to exist.  The board should not hesitate to take any steps necessary to subserve the interests of the public health of your city, hence I trust you will bring the subject to the attention of your board of health at once and that the examination will be made promptly.

I send you herewith a leaflet relative to the abatement and prevention of nuisances.  I hope to hear from you on this subject at your earliest convenience.

Very respectfully,

HENRY B. BAKER, Secretary.

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Secretary State Board of Health, Lansing, Mich.:

Dear Doctor -- Yours relative to a nuisance upon the Huron river near here is at hand.  Will say in reply that nothing, since the organization of the present board, has caused more anxiety for the city's health than this threatening nuisance. The city's ice supply is largely harvested just below the "works," to which reference is made.  An analysis of ice from the river has been made at the University laboratory and the specimen pronounced "not impure."  This has seemed to settle the matter for the present.

The difficulty is, that the place where the contamination is apt to be made is outside the limits of the city and, I believe, in the jurisdiction of Ann Arbor township.  I understand this factory was once in the city but was driven out by the former board of health.  The stench from it is no longer much of a nuisance in the city, but upon a warm summer day must be a cause of great discomfort to the farmers who live in the neighborhood.  It is unfortunate that the company who operate the establishment did not locate below, rather than above, the dam outside and on the other side of the city limits.

Very truly,

W.B. HINSDALE, M.D.,

Health Officer, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Feb. 8, 1902.